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If you grow ornamental grasses – and if not, what are you waiting for? – you probably know Sesleria autumnalis, a.k.a. “Autumn moor grass.” But have you met its equally-pretty, equally-hardy cousin Sesleria caerulea? Let us introduce you. A Scandinavian native, S. caerulea stands a cute, compact 8 – 12” tall. It’s hardy in Zones 4 – 7. “Blue moor grass” blooms in spring, with small purple panicles that mature to silvery green. The slender blades are glaucous blue on top, deep green bel

From the formal grounds of Tudor mansions to the simplest summer cottage, every garden welcomes the Royal touch. They’re a dramatic focal point as individual specimens, or an eye-popping, traffic-stopping show when planted in masses.They’re also terrific as the “thriller” in large containers. Keyword: “large!”Royal Collection Pennisetum varieties thrive on warm weather and full sun. Nobly bred, these bold, dark beauties fill your big-ticket big containers with remarkable style and speed. Hardy i

Beyond 'Karl Foerster'It’s rank blasphemy to rank any ornamental grass higher than world-famous Calamagrostis xa. ‘Karl Foerster’. It is, after all, the first grass ever named Perennial Plant of the Year, and rightly so. It’s a handsome workhorse that makes a designer look like a genius. And it’s one of our top sellers. You won’t hear us dis it.But we WILL say there are other options in that very same species that give you Karl’s legendary reliability in a fresh, different look: Stripes!‘Eldorad

Mystified by Latin plant names? We hear you, and we’re here to help. Once deciphered, those tongue-twisters can actually tell us a lot. For example:Lavandula angustifoliaThis classic species charms both the optical and olfactory senses. Even before the eye spies it, the nose knows lavender lurks nearby. While it comprises familiar favorites like ‘Munstead’ and ‘Hidcote’, it’s also home to some exciting newcomers. But first, what can its name tell us? Simple: angustifolia is Latin for “narrow lea

We know. It’s hard to conjure April showers and May flowers while December frost and January sleet lurk just below the nearer horizon. But dates on the calendar are like objects in the side-view mirror: Closer than they look. Spring sales are really not so far away. Now’s the time to do the kitchen prep for two early risers that will be key ingredients in your future inventory. Phlox subulata “Moss phlox” One of spring’s earliest harbingers, tough, colorful and cheerful. If it wer